Lionel Messi lit up Guayaquil on Saturday night with a stunning solo goal against Barcelona SC of Ecuador, but Inter Miami had to settle for a 2-2 draw in a pre-season friendly at Estadio Banco Pichincha. Messi sliced through the defence with ease, created another goal, and still walked off without a win. Football rarely bends fully to brilliance.
Messi collected the ball deep in the opposition half and decided to end the argument himself. He drove forward, beat two defenders at the edge of the box, shrugged off another challenge, and curled a trademark left-footed shot into the net. The finish carried all the familiar hallmarks: balance, disguise, and ruthless precision.
The name of the opponent stirred memories. Barcelona stood opposite Messi once again, though this version came from Ecuador rather than Catalonia. The badge looked familiar, the pain even more so.
That goal marked Messi’s first of the calendar year and set the tone for Miami’s attacking play. He drifted into pockets, pulled defenders out of shape, and dictated tempo with minimal touches. Miami looked sharper whenever the ball found his feet.
Barcelona SC responded before the break through João Rojas. They pushed higher, pressed Miami’s midfield, and forced turnovers in dangerous areas. Rojas punished a lapse with a clean finish to level the score.
Messi still had more to give before half-time. He spotted space early, opened his body, and sent a precise cross-field pass into the path of Benjamín Cremaschi at the edge of the area. The young midfielder kept his nerve and finished well to restore Miami’s lead.
Miami controlled possession after the interval but failed to kill the game. Javier Mascherano withdrew Messi on the hour mark and handed minutes to Luis Suárez. The change dulled Miami’s edge and invited pressure.
The match turned late and sharply. Substitute David Ayala conceded a foul and saw red, leaving Miami exposed with minutes remaining. Barcelona SC seized the moment and refused to waste it.
Tomás Martínez struck from close range to make it 2-2 and lift the stadium. The goal rewarded Barcelona’s persistence and punished Miami’s inability to manage the closing stages. Miami never regained control.
The draw continued a mixed South American tour for Mascherano’s side. Miami have won once in three matches, losing to Alianza Lima and beating Atlético Nacional before this draw. The results matter less than the patterns, and those patterns still look fragile without Messi on the pitch.
Mascherano now turns his focus to the final tune-up. Miami face Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico on Friday in their last pre-season outing. Competitive football arrives quickly.
